South Carolina School for the Deaf & Blind

What South Carolina School for the Deaf & Blind does

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) is a state-supported educational institution founded in 1849 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, governed by an 11-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Governor. It is the state's only designated specialized school for students who are deaf, blind, or sensory multi-disabled, operating four core on-campus programs: the School for the Deaf (Pre-K-12, ASL-based instruction), the School for the Blind (Pre-K-12, with braille literacy and expanded core curriculum), Cedar Springs Academy (sensory multi-disabled students ages 3-21), and the Applied Academic Center (career and technical education across eight SC Department of Education endorsed clusters). Supporting facilities include the Cleveland Learning Resource Center, Hughston Transition Living Center, the SC Instructional Resource Center (statewide braille/large print textbook distribution), and Kelly's Kids Center.

The organization also operates a Statewide Outreach division with offices in Columbia and a Braille Production Center in Greenwood, delivering contract services to local school districts across all 46 South Carolina counties in the form of blind/visually impaired education, deaf and hard of hearing education, sign language interpreting (on-site and via HIPAA/FERPA compliant video), early intervention (birth to age 5), visual language/ASL services, and the federally funded Statewide DeafBlind Project. Technology deployed is established assistive equipment — iPads, MacBooks with screen readers and braille displays, CCTVs, FM systems, smart boards, braille embossers, 3D printers, and the Einstein's Workshop makerspace — rather than AI-native systems.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Funding flows from South Carolina state appropriations, US Department of Education grants (IDEA, OSEP), contracts with local school districts, donor contributions through the SCSDB Foundation (a 501(c)(3) established 1979), and fees for outreach services. The institution is Cognia-accredited and subject to annual SC Department of Education evaluation. There are no M&A, funding rounds, or private investment vehicles; SCSDB is a government state entity under South Carolina jurisdiction.

Name

South Carolina School for the Deaf & Blind

Legal name

South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

Website

https://scsdb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SCSDB is a state-supported South Carolina educational institution founded in 1849, providing Pre-K-12 specialized education and statewide outreach services for students who are deaf, blind, or sensory multi-disabled across all 46 SC counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services for Sensory Disabilities

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH), Hearing Impairment & Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Inclusive Childcare (HSAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Deaf education programs
• Blind education services
• Sign language interpreting
• Assistive learning technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Spartanburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding: Primary funding through South Carolina state appropriations for public education
2. Federal Funding: Funding from US Department of Education grants including IDEA, OSEP grants for deaf-blind project
3. Donor Contributions: Charitable donations through SCSDB Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
4. Outreach Service Fees: Fees for interpreting services and other outreach services provided to schools and organizations statewide

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind is a state-supported specialized educational institution that delivers Pre-K-12 academic, career, and transition programs on its Spartanburg main campus for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or sensory multi-disabled. It complements on-campus programs with a statewide outreach division providing sign language interpreting, contract-based education services for public school districts, birth-to-five early intervention, ASL/visual language services, the federally funded DeafBlind Project, and the Instructional Materials Center distributing braille and large print textbooks across South Carolina.

Product overview

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind operates as a specialized state educational institution offering a unified portfolio of educational programs and statewide outreach services. The core on-campus programs include the Applied Academic Center (providing career and technical education through nationally recognized career clusters), Cedar Springs Academy (serving students with sensory disabilities plus additional disabilities), the School for the Blind (Pre-K-12 with extended core curriculum for visual impairment), and the School for the Deaf (Pre-K-12 with ASL-based instruction). These are complemented by an extensive statewide outreach division offering interpreting services, blind and low vision education services, deaf and hard of hearing education services, early childhood education services (including early intervention and Kelly's Kids), visual language services (ASL instruction and early language acquisition), and the DeafBlind Project. The organization also operates the Instructional Materials Center serving as the state's braille and large print textbook distribution hub. All programs are accredited through Cognia Global Commission and the SC Department of Education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cedar Springs Academy: Serves SC students ages 3-21 who have a vision or hearing disability with at least one other physical or intellectual disability.
• Applied Academic Center
• Kelly's Kids Center
• Statewide Interpreting Services
• Statewide Blind and Visually Impaired Education
• Statewide Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Program
• Visual Language Services
• Statewide Early Intervention Services
• Statewide DeafBlind Project
• Statewide Instructional Materials Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves students from all 46 South Carolina counties
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SC Commission for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership providing on-the-job experiences and transition assistance for students who are blind. Assists graduates with transition into the work world through career counseling and employment support.
• SC Department of Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership providing career counseling and work-based learning experiences for students with disabilities. Assists graduates with employment transition.
• SC Department of Disabilities and Special NeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities through transition services and career development.
• BabyNet (SC Department of Health and Human Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SC's Part C early intervention provider for referring families when vision and/or hearing concerns exist. Services provided through IDEA-funded program.
• Spartanburg County First Steps Early Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Kelly's Kids Early Childhood Education Program serving children ages 6 weeks to 3 years who are deaf, blind, deaf-blind, or typically developing. Enables service expansion beyond Spartanburg County.
• National Center on DeafBlindnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal grant partner for the Statewide DeafBlind Project providing technical assistance and resources for children with combined vision and hearing losses.
• US Department of Education Office of Special Education ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal grant funder for the Statewide DeafBlind Project through grant #H326T130082. Supports early intervention, special education, and transition services.
• SC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education agency partner for Project Magnify (reading skills for low vision), Vision Education Partnership, and statewide vision consultant position. Collaborative on instructional materials.
• University of South Carolina - UpstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership for teacher education and professional development.
• SC Commission for the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership for professional development and services for visually impaired individuals.
• SC State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership for teacher education and professional development.
• Medical University of South Carolina Storm Eye InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership providing medical expertise for visual impairment education.
• The Vision Institute of South CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership for comprehensive vision services.
• National Federation of the Blind of South CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership representing blind community interests.
• SC Chapter of the Association of Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually ImpairedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership for professional development.
• SC State LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SC Vision Education Partnership for accessible materials and resources.
• American Printing House for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal quota program partner for distribution of instructional materials and equipment for students who are legally blind. Manages annual census registration.
• University of South Carolina Center for Child and Family StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant partner for Statewide DeafBlind Project supporting early intervention and special education services.
• Family Connections (Parent Support Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent support group referred to families through early intervention services.
• SC Department of Education Listening and Spoken Language MentorshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative agreement for listening and spoken language mentorship program for teachers of deaf and hard of hearing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves23 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• California School for the Deaf, Fremont: State-operated K-12 bilingual ASL school with residential programs and statewide outreach — operates under the same state-school regulatory framework and serves comparable deaf and hard-of-hearing populations.
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Statewide public school and resource center in Austin serving students who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind — mirrors SCSDB's School for the Blind, Instructional Materials Center, and outreach division.
• Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind: State-supported residential school in St. Augustine offering both K-12 deaf and blind programs plus statewide outreach — the closest direct analog to SCSDB's combined deaf and blind mission and statewide outreach model.
• Georgia School for the Deaf: State-operated K-12 residential school for deaf and hard of hearing students in Cave Spring, Georgia, with statewide outreach services — closely comparable regional/deaf-only peer.
• California School for the Blind: State-supported residential school in Fremont serving K-12 students who are blind or visually impaired with statewide outreach, paralleling SCSDB's School for the Blind and Instructional Materials Center.
• American School for the Deaf: The oldest school for the deaf in the United States (founded 1817), operating as a nonprofit K-12 residential and day school in Connecticut — directly comparable in mission and educational program structure, with a different funding model.
• Texas School for the Deaf: State-supported K-12 residential school for deaf and hard of hearing students in Austin, with statewide outreach services and contract-based district partnerships — directly comparable in service scope and public funding model.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic private nonprofit school serving students with blindness and deafblindness in Massachusetts, with extensive outreach and international programs — directly comparable in mission and service breadth, with a private funding model.

Others

• National Center on DeafBlindness: Federally funded technical assistance and training center supporting children with deafblindness, including grant-partner work with SCSDB — adjacent OSEP-funded partner that complements rather than competes with the school's services.

Regional players

• North Carolina School for the Deaf: Two state-operated K-12 residential schools (Morganton and Greensboro) serving deaf and hard of hearing students in North Carolina — neighboring regional peer with similar state-residential-school model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user185345224
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCSDB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-carolina-school-for-the-deaf-and-the-blind

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina School for the Deaf & Blind